April 15th and 16th  Cherry Blossom Festival at the Miyoko Hotel in San Francisco.

Set-up of Bonsai Exhibit Friday April 14th at 7:00 PM.

Exhibit Hours Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Sign-up sheets will be available at both monthly meetings prior to the show. We still need two volunteers to be at the exhibit 12 Noon to 2:00 PM and

2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Saturday and on volunteer for 10:00 AM to 12 Noon on Sunday. To get to the Miyoko Hotel take the Fell Street off the flyover; at the red light turn right on Laguna and continue to Geary. The hotel is on the corner. Your landmark is the Japanese Temple Tower at Japantown.

Presidents Message

SPECIAL APPRECIATION

At times I think we take for granted all that our SENSEI "K" Akabane does for the Diablo Bonsai Club and our members. We are very fortunate to have `K as our sensei and his contributions to the club in his time, knowledge and materials. Listen to what `K is teaching us and work on special projects he talks about. Most importantly, dont be afraid to give `K your personal thank you once in awhile.

Club News

We had a good response to our booth at the "Millenium Garden Exhibit" on March 25th and 26th. Twenty members of the club volunteered their time to man the booth. Thank you all for your participation. A special thanks to our Sensei for his donation of Maples we sold at our booth and all the materials for the demonstrations both days. Also, special thanks to Bill Magee for his donation of trees for the plant sale.

The main purpose of our participation in this exhibit was for publicity and to introduce Diablo Bonsai Club to the area. The nursery supplied the tent for the display area at no charge to the club. Fifteen people signed up on Saturday expressing an interests in becoming members. The treasury also benefitted from the sale of raffle tickets for the two bonsai demonstration plantings.

Please welcome the following new members:

Linda Giacobazzi from Walnut Creek.

Our Sensei has found a limited supply of special bonsai starter material. There are two varieties of Hornbeam, flowering crabapple, pears, plum and Koreran Lilac. These are older trees and excellent material. He has this material set aside for club members. So visit the nursery and ask K to see them.

The October Show is coming up and you need a stand to display your trees. A good source of the raw material in the local area is:

Artisans Burlewood Furniture

910 Ashby Avenue (at Seventh Street, just east off Hwy 80)

Berkeley, CA

(510)-549-0664

Our club expert on finishing the raw material is Barney Montoya. Give him a call and he will be happy to help you.

If you have anything for the newsletter, bring it to class or forward it to Daryl Bunch. We welcome any write-ups or articles from members on topics that would be of interest to other members.

April 16th  Nancy Norris will have an Open House all day. The garden railway and bonsai will be open for tours at 25 Linda Vista in Orinda. Call for directions at 925-284-8789 or 925-253-1854 on the day of the event.

April 8th & 9th  The American Bonsai Association 41st Annual Show at the Sacramento Garden and Art Center. Located at 3330 McKinley Blvd in Sacramento, CA. The show hours are: Saturday 9AM to 5 PM and Sunday 9AM to 4PM. There will be demonstrations both days at 2 PM. On Saturday the demonstration will be by Boon Manakitivipart and on Sunday the demonstration will be by Hiroshi Matsuda.

April 15th and 16th - Fuji Bonsai Club 46th Annual Exhibit from 10 AM to 5 PM both days at the Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Drive (Merritt Lake) Oakland. Demonstrations both days at 2 PM by Jimmy Inadomi.

April 15th and 16th  Betsuin Bonsai Club 30th Annual Show at the San Jose Buddhist Church at 640 North 5th Street in San Jose. The show hours are 12Noon to 5Pm on Saturday and 11 AM to 4 PM on Sunday. There will be demonstrations on both days at 2 PM by Harry Hirao.

April 15h and 16th  Sacramento Bonsai Sekiyukai at the Sacramento Buddist Hall at 2401 Riverside Blvd in Sacramento. The show hours will be Saturday 12Noon to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. There will be demonstrations both days at 2 PM by Johnny Uchida.

April 29th and 30th  Kusamura Bonsai Clubs 40th Annual Show at Mitchell Park Community Center, 3800 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA. The show hours are Saturday 12 Noon o 5 PM and Sunday 11 Am to 4PM. There will be demonstrations both days at 1:30 PM. On Saturday by Mel Ikeda and on Sunday by Sandy Planting and Jim Ransohoff.